Hayley Harding | Votebeat

State officials say they’ve addressed a problem that stymied some work in the August primary. And while local clerks are optimistic that the technology won’t fail again, they’re prepared to handle it if a similar issue arises.

The saga of far-right Antrim County Clerk Victoria Bishop shows how many safeguards are built into the U.S. election system.

Several Michigan clerks missed the deadline to mail absentee ballots, despite state laws that require them to be sent to voters at least 40 days before the election — which, for the 2026 midterms, was Sept. 24.

Antrim County Clerk Victoria Bishop is accused of changing voters’ registration statuses despite laws that limit what county clerks can do.

Attorney General Dana Nessel said Thursday that her office found “no evidence of criminal wrongdoing” or that anyone had tried to access the QVF from that computer at that time.

The package of legislation is, so far, the only election measure this session to receive bipartisan support in Lansing.

The state revoked Victoria Bishop’s access to Michigan’s voter roll Friday, the latest salvo in the dispute between the state and the controversial Republican election official.

Q & A with Votebeat reporter Hayley Harding.

The Michigan Bureau of Elections has demanded that Antrim County Clerk Victoria Bishop stop trying to change or cancel voters’ registrations in her county — or possibly face criminal charges.

The state's concerns focus on Victoria Bishop, who was elected county clerk in 2024. Bishop issued a lengthy response via press release on Monday.